Heater



E. L. WATSON HEATER INVENTOR. EARNEST L.WATSON BY I; i ATTORNEYS:

April 22, 1941.

m B 3 i 2 5 E F m FIG.5.

April 22, 1941.

E. L. WATSON HEATER Filed Sept. 15, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV EN TOR.

m N m N T w M T A L/M T s I E N R. A E M B Patented Apr. 22, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE HEATER Earnest L. Watson, Milan, Mich.

Application September 15, 1939, Serial No. 295,155

11 Claims.

This invention relates generally to heaters and refers more particularly to water heaters.

One of the essential objects of the invention is to provide a heater of this type wherein various kinds of fuel such as coal, wood, oil or gas may be used as desired.

Another object is to provide a water heater that is so constructed that it can serve as an incinerator for refuse, garbage and the like.

Another object is to provide a heater having a jacket of steel and a removable top or cover portion.

Another object is to provide a. heater wherein the water tank, coil, etc., are formed of copper and the like which is thinner and a faster heat conductor than cast metal commonly used in the construction of water tanks.

Another object is to provide a heater wherein the gas burner is so constructed and arranged that the gas ports will be free from clogging or plugging by refuse, etc., and will direct the flame or gas jets downwardly and inwardly toward the lower central part of the fire box for eificient consumption of the refuse to be burned.

Another object is to provide a heater wherein the water will be heated While the structure is being used as an incinerator.

Another object is to provide a heater wherein the fire brick or other refractory material used as a lining for the fire box serves as a seat or support for the gas burner.

Another object is to provide a heater wherein the water tank is mounted upon or above the gas burner so that it is in a position to receive the heat or products of combustion from, either or both the gas'jets and the fuel or refuse burning in the fire box.

Another object is to provide a heater wherein the water coil is supported by and extends upwardly from the water tank.

Another object is to provide a heater wherein the tank and coil for water have greater tensile strength to withstand high water pressures and are free from rust and corrosion so that a cleaner supply of hot water may be provided.

Another object is to provide a heater wherein the gas burner is adjacent the feed opening of the structure so that the burner may be conveniently lighted from said feed opening.

Another object is to provide a heater that is simple in construction, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install, and economical in operation.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation 'of a heater embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the structure illustrated in Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 are cross sections taken respectively on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing a slight modification;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view through the structure illustrated in Figure 5;

Figures 7 and 8 are cross sectional views taken substantially on the lines 1-7 and 8-8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure l but containing a slightly modified construction;

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view through the structure illustrated in Figure 9;

Figures 11 and 12, respectively, are cross sectional views taken substantially on the lines llll and l2-l2 of Figure 10;

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line I3|3 of Figure 10;

Figure 14 is an elevational View similar to Figure 5 but containing a slightly modified construction;

Figure 15 is a vertical sectional view through the structure illustrated in Figure 14;

Figures 16 and 17 are horizontal cross sectional views taken substantially on the lines Iii-l6 and l1l1 of Figure 15.

Referring now to the drawings, A is the ash pit, B is the fire box, and C is the combustion chamber of a heater embodying my invention. As shown, these parts are arranged in superposed relation and have a jacket H] of steel. The top H of the combustion chamber C is removable from the body portion thereof and has a central outlet I2 for the products of combustion to a suitable flue or stack I3.

As usual, suitable grates l4 separate the fire box B from the ash pit A and form a support for fuel such as coal, wood, refuse, etc, within the fire box. Any suitable clean-out opening such as [5 having a door l6 may be provided for the ash pit A, while a feed opening I! having a door I8 is provided in the front wall of the combustion chamber to permit fuel such as coal, wood, refuse or garbage to be placed into the fire box B.

Located between the grates i4 and the feed opening I! is a lining IQ of fire brick or other suitable refractory material for the fire box B,

while resting upon the upper edges of said lining just below the feed opening I1 is an annular gas burner D. As shown, the gas ports 20 of this burner are in the lower inner wall thereof, thus the gas jets will be free from clogging or plugging and will be directed downwardly toward the lower center of the fire box B. Any suitable means such as the mixing tube 21 extending through the rear wall of the jacket to may be used to supply the burner D with a combustible mixture of gas and air.

Mounted. upon or directly above the burner D is a water tank E of copper, while extending upwardly from this tank is a water coil F. As shown in Figure 4, the tank E extends. horizontally in the arc of a circle from one side of the feed opening I! around the combustion chamber to the other side of the feed opening. Preferably it is substantially rectangular shape in. vertical cross section and overhangs the gas burner D. In height the tank E is preferably equal to the depth of the feed opening I'I. Any suitable means such as the pipe or conduit 22 extending through the rear wall of the jacket Ill may be used for supplying water from a suitable source (not shown) to the tank.

The coil F is helical in configuration and is centered with respect to the combustion chamber C. The lower end portion 23 of the coil is connected to and extends upwardly from the top of the tank E, while the upper end portion 24 of the coil extends upwardly to a suitable fitting 25 in the removable cover H to which a hot water supply pipe 26 is connected.

21 is insulation, preferably asbestos, upon the inner side of the removable cover H, and 28 are I positioning lugs for insuring proper assembly of in the fire box B should it be desired to use the heater as an incinerator. In either instance, the products of combustion will pass upward around the tank E and coil F to heat the same before entering the flue 13. In this connection it will be noted by referring to Figures 3 and 4 that such products of combustion may pass upwardly between the circular tank E and coil F and the square corners of the jacket H], as well as upward at the center thereof. Whenever it is desired to make repairs or replacements, the cover H of the jacket l may be removed to afford proper access to the interior of the heater.

If desired, a suitable oil burner (not shown) of conventional design may be used alone or in conjunction with the gas burner D in the fire box B to heat thetank E and coil F or to burn refuse, etc. Likewise, the tank E alone or the coil F alone may be used. If the tank E only is used, then the hot water outlet at the top of the tank would be connected by suitable piping to the fitting 25 in the cover II. If the coil F only is used, then the lower portion 23 thereof would be connected by suitable piping to the supply pipe 22.

Thus, from the foregoing it is apparent that this heater having a steel jacket with a copper, brass or non-rusting or non-corroding sheet metal tank and coil for water assures a supply of clean hot water at a lower cost than hereazeaoec tofore. Moreover, the conversion feature for incinerator purposes is a very important factor.

In the past, tank heaters using coal or solid fuels have been made of cast iron, and the Water tanks of such heaters have in some instances been mad-e of cast brass or bronze, but such constructions are entirely too expensive. In the present instance, my heater structure will effect substantial savings in manufacture and operating costs inasmuch as it is a sheet metal job throughout and inasmuch as either the gas burner D or an oil burn-er may be used for burning refuse or other available materials without disconnecting the gas or oil or making any change whatever in the installation or heater. By merely turning off the gas to the burner D, boxes, refuse, or other combustible material may be placed within the fire box B and burned. This will not only dispose of such refuse, but will cause the water in tank E and coil F to be heated.

In Figures 5 to 8, inclusive, I have illustrated a slight modification wherein the jacket 39 is round or circular instead of square in cross section as in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive. Thus, in this construction the jacket 30 substantially conforms in curvature to the curvature of the tank E and gas burner D. Other than this, the construction and operation are the same as in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive.

In Figures 9 to 13, inclusive, I have illustrated another modification in which the jacket H is square in cross section as in Figures 1 to l, inclusive. However, instead of using a tank and coil combination as in Figures 1 to 8, inclusive,

' there is only a tank E in the combustion chamber C for the water. As shown, the tank E has a bottom wall 43 above the gas burner D and has spaced inner and outer walls 4! and 42 that extend upwardly from said bottom wall and V are pleated or corrugated Vertically. Likewise,

the lower upright portion 45 of the outer wall 42 is plain, while the inclined upper portion 4"! of the outer wall is pleated or corrugated vertically. This outer wall 42 is welded or otherwise permanently secured to the bottom wall 49 and to the upper portion 45 of the inner wall.

By referring to Figures 10 and 12, it will be noted that the bottom wall 49 and lower upright wall portions 43 and it of the tank are substantially C-shaped in cross section and extend from one side of the feed opening 48 around the combustion chamber C to the other side of said opening. 49 and 59, respectively, are upright portions of the outer wall 42 turned in and welded to the bottom wall Ali) and to the lower upright portion 3 of the inner wall ll, while 5| is a horizontal portion of the outer wall 52 turned in and welded to said upright portions Ml and 5t] and to the upright portion 53 of the inner wall.

Water is supplied to the tank E by a pipe 52 extending through the rear wall of the jacket H and is conducted from the tank by a pipe 53 extending upwardly to the fitting 5-4 in the cover 55.

Thus, with this pleated construction the heating area or surface of the tank E is materially increased. Actually the walls of the tank may be formed from lighter gage sheet metal, hence the increased heating surface mentioned may be obtained without much, if any, additional weight. Such pleated or corrugated construction also adds materially to the strength and rigidity of the tank and effectively prevents it from warping or twisting out of shape while in use.

In the process of construction the plates of copper from which the inner and outer walls 4| and 42 of the tank are formed are crimped by a die (not shown) so that they will have the pleats or corrugations shown, it being understood, of course, that the pleats or corrugations are closer together toward the upper end of the tank. Thus, regardless of the diameter of the respective portions 43, 44 and 45, respectively of the inner Wall, the heating area per unit of height of all of said portions is constant. Likewise, the heating area per unit of height of the portions 46 and 41 of the outer wall is constant. Moreover, the construction is such that the products of combustion may pass up in rear and around the tank E as well as at the center thereof. Hence, the maximum heating action is obtained.

In Figures 14 to 1'7, inclusive, I have illustrated another modification wherein the tank E is the same as in Figures 9 to 13, inclusive, but the jacket 60 of the heater is round or circular as in Figures 5 to 8, inclusive, to substantially conform in curvature to the tank E and gas burner D Other than this, the construction and operation of the heater structure illustrated in Figures 14 to 17, inclusive, is the same as that illustrated in Figures 9 to 13, inclusive.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A heater having a fire box and a combustion chamber arranged in superposed relation, 2. lining of refractory material for the fire box, a gas burner mounted on the upper edge of said lining and having gas ports inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the center of said fire box for igniting combustible material in said fire box, and a receptacle for water in said combustion chamber just above the gas burner for receiving heat from either the burner or the products of combustion from the combustible material in the fire box.

2. A combined incinerator and hot water heater having an outer jacket provided with a feed opening, a fire box and a combustion chamber arranged in superposed relation within said jacket, the fire box being below the feed opening and in open communication with the combustion chamber, the top of the combustion chamber having an outlet for products of combustion, a lining of refractory material for the fire box, a gas burner resting upon the upper edges of said lining and having jets inclined downwardly toward the center of the fire box, a water tank mounted in the combustion chamber in heating proximity to the gas burner, said tank extending around the interior of the combustion chamber from one side to the other of the feed opening and overhanging the gas burner, the height of the tank being substantially equal to the depth of the feed opening, and a water coil extending upwardly within the combustion chamber from said water tank, said coil being substantially helical in configuration and being substantially cen- T tered relative to the outlet in the top of the combustion chamber.

3. A combined incinerator and hot water heater having an outer jacket provided with a feed opening, a fire box and a combustion chamber arranged in superposed relation within said jacket, the fire box being below the feed opening and in open communication with the combustion chamber, the top of the combustion chamber provided at the center thereof with an outlet for products of combustion, a lining of refractory material for the fire box, a substantially annular gas burner resting upon the upper edges of said lining and having jets inclined downwardly toward the center of the fire box, and a water tank mounted in the combustion chamber in heating proximity to the gas burner, said tank extending around the interior of the combustion chamber from one side to the other of the feed opening and overhanging the gas burner.

4. A combined incinerator and hot water heater having an outer jacket provided with a feed opening, a fire box and a. combustion chamber arranged in superposed relation within said jacket, the fire box being below the feed opening and in open communication with the combustion chamber, a linin of refractory material for the fire box, a substantially annular gas burner resting upon the upper edges of said lining and having jets inclined downwardly toward the center of the fire box, a water tank mounted in the combustion chamber in heating proximity to the gas burner, said tank extending around the interior of the combustion chamber from one side to the other of the feed opening and overhanging the gas burner, and a water coil extendin upwardly within the combustion chamber from said water tank.

5. A combined incinerator and hot water heater having an outer jacket provided with a feed opening, a fire box and a combustion chamber arranged in superposed relation within said jacket, the fire box being below the feed opening and in open communication with the combustion chamber, a lining of refractory material for the fire box, a substantially annular gas burner resting upon the upper edges of the lining and having jets inclined downwardly toward the center of the fire box, and a water tank mounted in the combustion chamber in heating prox imity to the gas burner, said tank being substantially arcuate shape in plan and extending around the interior of the combustion chamber from one side to the other of the feed opening and overhanging the gas burner.

6. A combined incinerator and hot water heater having an outer jacket provided with a. feed opening, a fire box and 'a combustion chamber arranged in superposed relation within said jacket, the fire box being below the feed opening and in open communication with the combustion chamber, a lining of refractory material for the fire box, a gas burner mounted upon said lining and having jets inclined downwardly toward the center of the fire box, and a water tank mounted in the combustion chamber in heating proximity to the gas burner, a portion of said tank being in the form of a hollow annulus, the inner upright wall of said annulus being corrugated vertically.

7. A combined incinerator and hot water heater having an outer jacket provided with a feed opening, a fire box and a combustion chamber arranged in superposed relation within said jacket, the fire box being below the feed opening and in open communication with the combustion chamber, a lining of refractory material for the fire box, a gas burner mounted upon said lining and having jets inclined toward the center of the fire box, and a water tank mounted in the combustion chamber in heating proximity to the gas burner, said water tank having a substantially annular portion and a substantially frusto-conical portion, the annular portion overhanging the'gas burner, and the frusto-conical portion extending upwardly from the annular portion for directing products of combustion toward an outlet therefor in the combustion. chamber.

I 8. A combined incinerator and hot water heater having anouter jacket provided at one side thereof with a feed opening, a fire box and a combustion chamber arranged in superposed relation within said jacket, the fire box being below the feed opening and in open communication with the combustion chamber, a lining of refractory material for the fire box, a gas burner carried by said lining and having jets inclined downwardly toward the center of the fire box, a water tank mounted in the combustion chamber in heating proximity to the gas burner, said tank extending around the interior of the combustion chamber from one side to the other of the feed opening and overhanging the gas burner, the height of the tank being substantially equal to the depth of the feed opening, and a water coil extending upwardly within the combustion chamber from said water tank.

9. A combined incinerator and hot Water heater having an outer jacket provided at one side thereof with a feed opening, a fire box and a combustion chamber arranged in superposed relation within said jacket, the fire box being below the feed opening and in open communication with the combustion chamber, a lining of refractory material for the fire box, a gas burner carried by said lining and having jets inclined downwardly toward the center of the fire box, and a water tank mounted in the combustion chamber in heating proximity to the gas burner, said tank extending around the interior of the combustion chamber and overhanging the gas burner.

10. A combined incinerator and hot water heater having an outer jacket provided at one side thereof with a feed opening, a fire box and a combustion chamber arranged in superposed relation within said jacket, the fire box being below the feed opening and in open communication with the combustion chamber, a lining of refractory material for the fire box, a gas burner carried bysaid lining and having jets inclined downwardly toward the center of the fire box, and a receptacle for water in said combustion chamber just above the gas burner for receiving heat from either the burner or the products of combustion from combustible material in the fire box.

11. A combined incinerator and hot water heater having an outer jacket provided at one side thereof with a feed opening, a fire box and a combustion chamber arranged in superposed relation within said jacket, the fire box being below the feed opening and in open communication with the combustion chamber, a lining of refractory material for the fire box, a gas burner mounted upon said lining and having jets inclined downwardly toward the center of the fire box, and a water tank mounted in the combustion chamber in heating proximity to the gas burner.

EARNEST L. WATSON. 

